Method and apparatus for configuring enhanced timing measurements involving multifarious radio links

ABSTRACT

In its various aspects, the present invention addresses the many challenges associated with making timing measurements involving multifarious radio links. Such measurements are referred to herein as “enhanced” to connote that such timing determinations are being made across multifarious radio links. Here, a radio link will be understood as connecting two radio nodes, and two radio links are considered to be multifarious with respect to each other if they are opposite in terms of uplink and downlink transmit directions, and further if they are associated with different cell identifiers and/or if the two links are between different pairs of radio nodes. In this context, the teachings herein disclose the sharing of “enhanced timing measurement” capability information, e.g., between radio nodes and positioning nodes. Such information indicates the enhanced timing measurement capability of a radio node. Sharing such information enables another node, e.g., a positioning node, to determine an enhanced timing measurement configuration to be used by a radio node. Further, additional teachings herein disclose advantageous configurations for making enhanced timing measurements, and techniques for compensating timing measurements determined from multifarious radio links, e.g., compensating for frequency-dependent propagation time differences.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to wireless communicationsnetworks, and particularly relates to radio link timing measurements insuch networks.

BACKGROUND

Timing measurements are used in various types of wireless communicationnetworks, for a variety of purposes. For example, Timing Advance (TA)measurements are used in certain types of wireless communicationnetworks, such as those based on the Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM) and Long Term Evolution (LTE) standards. Whilesubstantive details are available in the relevant TechnicalSpecifications, e.g., TS 36.133 and TS 36.321 for the LTE case, it maybe helpful to explain the basics of TA. A User Equipment (UE) initiatesa Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection with a supporting LTE networkby sending a Random Access Preamble to an eNB, i.e., an LTE basestation, also referred to as an eNodeB. The eNB uses the transmissionfrom the UE to estimate the one-way propagation time for thetransmission from the UE and sends a corresponding TA value to the UE,for use by the UE in time aligning its transmissions. In particular, theUE adjusts its uplink transmission timing a defined number of subframesafter receipt of the TA value in a given sub-frame.

Of course, TA determination is only one of many examples. Both mobilewireless communication devices (e.g., UEs) and base stations, e.g.,eNBs, make various timing measurements, including timing-based rangemeasurements at various times and for various reasons, including forpositioning. The various examples of timing-based range measurementsinclude receive-transmit time difference measurements. At a UE, forexample, the Receive-Transmit (Rx-Tx) time difference measurement isdefined as the time difference between the receive timing of downlinkradio frame #i at the UE, and the UE transmit timing of uplink radioframe #i. At the eNB, the Rx-Tx time difference is defined as thedifference between the receive timing of uplink radio frame #i (for thepath that is first detected in time) and the transmit timing of thedownlink radio frame #i. See TS 36.214 for more detailed timingmeasurement examples in the LTE context.

The current version of TS 36.133 also specifies requirements on UEcapabilities for support of event triggering and reporting criteria. Thecurrent requirements are primarily defined for the mobilitymeasurements. The requirements include: a set of reporting criteriacategories; the number of reporting criteria per category that UE shallbe able to support in parallel; and the maximum total number ofreporting criteria. The current set of reporting criteria in Rel. 9includes three measurement categories used for mobility:intra-frequency, inter-frequency and inter-RAT measurements, as well asfor legacy positioning measurements, namely OTDOA RSTD and UE Rx-Tx timedifference measurements.

For the intra-frequency category, measurements for up to nine E-UTRANintra-frequency cells may be configured in parallel. For theinter-frequency category, measurements of up to seven E-UTRANinter-frequency cells and four positioning measurements may beconfigured in parallel. And for inter-RAT, up to five parallelmeasurements per supported RAT are supported. The maximum total numberof reporting criteria is currently twenty-five. This means that,depending upon the UE capability (e.g. inter-RAT capabilities), an eNodeB can configure a UE to perform up to twenty-five measurements inparallel. As long as the measurement configuration does not exceed thereporting criteria requirements above, the UE is required to meet therelevant performance requirements, e.g., measurement reporting delay,measurement accuracy of the configured measurements, etc.

Although these and other example timing measurements are well known inthe wireless communication arts, the continuing evolution of wirelesscommunication networks presents numerous issues, which are not wellunderstood in the context of, for example, multipointtransmission/reception scenarios, including Distributed Antenna Systems(DAS), service involving multiple Remote Radio Heads (RRH),Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) service, in at least some cases,Coordinated Multipoint (CoMP) service scenarios, and diversitytransmission scenarios. Complications not addressed in conventionalapproaches to timing measurements also arise in Carrier Aggregation (CA)service scenarios.

CA, also referred to as multi-carrier service, allows a UE to receiveand/or transmit data simultaneously over more than one carrierfrequency. Each carrier frequency is often referred to as a componentcarrier (CC) or simply a serving cell in the serving sector. Notably, CAis supported for both contiguous and non-contiguous component carriers,and component carriers originating from the same eNB need not providethe same coverage.

CA is used in both LTE and High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), and when CAis in use, a UE will have a primary serving cell (Pcell) and one or moresecondary serving cells (Scells) operating on a secondary carrierfrequency or frequencies. For the downlink, the carrier corresponding tothe Pcell is the Downlink Primary Component Carrier (DL PCC), while inthe uplink it is the Uplink Primary Component Carrier (UL PCC).Depending on UE capabilities, the Scells and the Pcell form a set ofserving cells for the UE.

The above scenarios all may be regarded as involving “multifarious”radio links. One radio link is multifarious with respect to anotherradio link if the two links are opposite in terms of uplink and downlinktransmit directions and further if they connect different pairs of radionodes, i.e., the two links are not between the same pairing of two radionodes in a network, and/or if they are associated with different cellidentifiers. Different cell identifiers for two radio links implies twobase stations that are geographically separated and/or implies the useof different carrier frequency bands for the two radio links. The use ofmultifarious radio links introduces significant challenges with respectto timing measurements, including the various timing-based rangemeasurements associated with, e.g., mobile device positioning.

SUMMARY

In its various aspects, the present invention addresses the manychallenges associated with making timing measurements involvingmultifarious radio links. Such measurements are referred to herein as“enhanced” to connote that such timing determinations are being madeacross multifarious radio links. Here, a radio link will be understoodas connecting two radio nodes, and two radio links are considered to bemultifarious with respect to each other if they are opposite in terms ofuplink and downlink transmit directions, and further if they areassociated with different cell identifiers and/or if the two links arebetween different pairs of radio nodes. In this context, the teachingsherein disclose the sharing of “enhanced timing measurement” capabilityinformation, e.g., between radio nodes and positioning nodes. Suchinformation indicates the enhanced timing measurement capability of aradio node. Sharing such information enables another node, e.g., apositioning node, to determine an enhanced timing measurementconfiguration to be used by a radio node. Further, additional teachingsherein disclose advantageous configurations for making enhanced timingmeasurements, and techniques for compensating timing measurementsdetermined from multifarious radio links, e.g., compensating forfrequency-dependent propagation time differences.

With the above in mind, in some embodiments, a first radio node isconfigured for operation in a wireless communication network andcomprises a wireless communication transceiver and an enhanced timingdetermination circuit that is configured to make enhanced timingmeasurements—i.e., timing measurements that interrelate multifariousradio links. For example, the enhanced timing determination circuit isconfigured to determine receive/transmit time differences, one-waypropagation delays, and/or round-trip-times, based on radio link timingsmeasured or known for two or more radio links that are multifarious asdefined herein. Such interrelation enables the radio node having anenhanced timing determination circuit to make timing measurements thatspan different Radio Access Technologies (RATs), or that span differentcells in a Carrier Aggregation (CA) or Coordinated MultiPoint (CoMP)service configuration, or in “HetNets” involving macro and pico basestations that are geographically separated and/or that operate indifferent carrier frequency bands.

In an example of the first radio node, the wireless communicationtransceiver is configured to communicate with a second radio node in thewireless communication network via a first radio link that ismultifarious with respect to a second radio link involving either thefirst or second radio node. Correspondingly, the enhanced timingdetermination circuit is configured to determine an enhanced timingmeasurement by interrelating radio link timing across the first andsecond multifarious radio links. The radio node also may include anenhanced timing measurement configuration circuit that is operativelyassociated with the wireless communication transceiver and the enhancedtiming determination circuit. In such embodiments, the enhanced timingmeasurement configuration circuit is configured to report the enhancedtiming measurement capability of the radio node and/or configure theenhanced timing measurements made by the radio node according toenhanced timing measurement configuration information received fromanother node in the network.

The first radio node may be a user equipment (UE) having an uplink withone base station and a downlink with another base station. Here, theuplink and the downlink are an example of first and second multifariousradio links, as they are in opposite transmit directions and involvedifferent pairs of radio nodes—i.e., the UE and one base station on theuplink, and the UE and the other base station on the downlink. Anenhanced timing measurement by the UE in this scenario interrelatesradio link timing across the uplink and downlink, even though the uplinkand downlink involve different base stations. The UE may make directtiming measurements on both such links, or it may make measurements onone of the links, which are dependent on the radio link timing measuredby or sent to the UE for the other link.

Similarly, if the first radio node is a first base station, e.g., aneNodeB in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, the first radio node maydetermine an enhanced timing measurement that interrelates the radiolink timing on an uplink or downlink between it and a UE with the radiolink timing on a downlink or uplink between the UE and a second basestation, where in some embodiments, one of the links may be an uplinkand one of the links may be a downlink. Inter-base-stationcommunications are used, for example, to provide the first base stationwith radio link timing information relating to the other link. Timinginformation also may be shared across carrier frequency bands, such aswhere the multifarious radio links represent different carrier frequencybands and/or different RATs. As for the determination of enhanced timingmeasurement configurations to be used by such radio nodes, in someembodiments a node in the network is configured to provide suchconfiguration services. The node may be essentially any type of nodewithin the network, although it is advantageous to configure certainnode types for such operation. For example, given the involvement ofpositioning nodes, such as E-SMLCs in an LTE embodiment, in varioustiming-based range measurements used for UE positioning, it iscontemplated herein to configure a positioning node to provide enhancedtiming measurement configuration services. In another non-limitingexample, a base station is so configured. In yet another example, anoperations and maintenance (OMA) node is so configured.

Regardless, such a node comprises one or more communication interfacesconfigured for communicating with one or more radio nodes in thenetwork. Such communication may be direct, at a corresponding networklayer, or may be indirect, and the radio node(s) may be base stationsand/or UEs. In any case, the node includes one or more processingcircuits that are operatively associated with the one or morecommunication interfaces and configured to receive enhanced timingmeasurement capability information for a radio node. As noted, theenhanced timing measurement capability information indicates whether orto what extent the radio node can make enhanced timing measurementsinvolving multifarious radio links. For example, the capabilityinformation may indicate a maximum frequency difference betweenmultifarious radio links that can be accommodated by the radio node.

The node's processing circuit(s) are configured to determine an enhancedtiming measurement configuration to be used by the radio node, based onthe enhanced timing measurement capability information received for theradio node, and further based on network configuration informationrelevant to determining enhanced timing measurements at a radio node.The processing circuits are further configured to send signalingindicating said enhanced timing measurement configuration to the radionode, to control the enhanced timing measurements performed by the radionode.

A related method implemented in a node within the network includesreceiving enhanced timing measurement capability information for a radionode, determining an enhanced timing measurement configuration to beused by the radio node, based on said enhanced timing measurementcapability information and further based on network configurationinformation relevant to making an enhanced timing measurement at theradio node, and sending signaling indicating said enhanced timingmeasurement configuration to the radio node, to control the enhancedtiming measurements performed by the radio node.

In an example case, the node determines the enhanced timing measurementconfiguration by selecting which multifarious radio links are to be usedby the radio node in making the enhanced timing measurement based onminimizing a frequency distance between two or more of the multifariousradio links that are to be used. That is, the network configurationinformation may indicate which multifarious radio links to select formaking the enhanced timing measurement, such as by providing selectioncriteria, such as by indicating any one or more of a maximum frequencydistance permissible between links, a maximum physical distance betweenthe radio nodes involved, and/or in view of other variables, such astiming accuracy requirements, the measurement type involved, etc.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above featuresand advantages. Indeed, those skilled in the art will recognizeadditional features and advantages upon reading the following detaileddescription, and upon viewing the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial block diagram of a wireless communication network,wherein one or more entities are configured to perform or configureenhanced timing measurements involving multifarious radio links, such asmade by radio nodes like base stations and user equipments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example arrangement known forheterogeneous networks.

FIGS. 3-5 are block diagrams illustrating multiple embodiments ofenhanced timing measurement capability reporting and enhanced timingmeasurement configuration.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a user equipment (UE),which is a type of radio node and which is configured to make enhancedtiming measurements.

FIG. 7 is a logic flow diagram of one embodiment of a method of enhancedtiming measurement at a radio node, such as a base station or a UE.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a base station, which isanother type of radio node and is configured to make and/or configureenhanced timing measurements.

FIG. 9 is a logic flow diagram illustrating an example case of making anenhanced timing measurement within the context of the method introducedin FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a node in a wirelesscommunication network, e.g., a positioning node in a core network, thatis arranged to evaluate enhanced timing measurement capabilities ofradio nodes, and to configure enhanced timing measurements for suchnodes.

FIG. 11 is a logic flow diagram of one embodiment of a method ofconfiguring enhanced timing measurements for a radio node.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless communication network 8 thatincludes a Core Network (CN) 10, and a Radio Access Network (RAN) 12.The CN 10 includes various entities. By way of example FIG. 1illustrates several CN entities, including a Mobility Management Entityor MME 14, and a Serving Gateway or SGW 16. The SGW 16 and/or othernodes (not shown) provide communicative connectivity to one or moreexternal networks 18, such as other wireless networks and/or other typesof telecommunication networks, the Internet, etc.

The RAN 12 includes a number of base stations 20 (e.g., 20-1, 20-2, andso on), with each base station 20 providing radio service in one or more“cells” 22 (e.g., 22-1, 22-2, and so on). Here, it will be understoodthat the term “cell” has broad meaning and may mean logical or physicalcells.

As a non-limiting example, one sees a further base station 24 in FIG. 1that provides a cell 26, which overlays the cell 22-3. The base station24 may be the same type as the other illustrated base stations 20, andlikewise the cell 26 may be of the same general type as the other cells22, however, the different numeric labels used here simplify thediscussion with respect to describing a “heterogeneous” networkembodiment—a “HetNet.” In an example HetNet scenario, the base stations20 are “macro” base stations intended to provide service over relativelylarge cells 22, while the base station 24 is a micro base station thatprovides coverage over a smaller cell 26. Merely by way of example, FIG.2 illustrates an example arrangement of macro and pico cells, such as isknown for HetNets.

Returning to FIG. 1, one sees that the cell 26 overlays a portion of thecell 22-3 and may provide higher data rate service in the overlaid area,or may provide improved coverage, or may provide “private” access, suchas in the case where only UEs listed in a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG)data set are permitted to access the network 8 through the base station24. Here, the base station 24 may link to the CN 10 using a secureconnection through an IP network 28. Examples of the base station 24include “pico” or “femto” base stations, such as home gateways. LTEstandards refer to such home gateways as Home eNBs or HeNBs.

The RAN 12 provides the air interface that communicatively couples UEs30 to the CN 10 and any external networks 18 that are accessible throughthe CN 10. Here, the term “UE” should be given broad construction tomean not only “user equipment” in the sense of 3GPP standards, but alsoessentially any type of wireless communication device, such as mobilephones, tablets, laptops or other computers, and various other“connected” devices, such as network modems, etc.

Although the RAN 12 can support many UEs 30, for simplification FIG. 1depicts a single example UE 30 being supported by the RAN 12. Here“supported” means that the UE 30 is connected or otherwise registered inthe network 8 and can thus communicate via the network 8. In particular,FIG. 1 depicts the UE 30 as having a number of actual or possible radiolinks 32 with the RAN 12. One sees, for example, a radio link 32-1 tobase station 20-1, a radio link 32-2 to base station 20-2, a radio link32-3 to base station 20-3, and a radio link 32-4 to base station 24.Each one of these radio links 32 may be a downlink (DL) from the network8 to the UE 30, or an uplink (UL) from the UE 30 to the network 8, orboth. In the context of this disclosure, two radio links 32 areconsidered to be “multifarious” if they are opposite in terms of uplinkand downlink transmit directions and further if they are betweendifferent pairs of radio nodes 20, 30 and/or have different cellidentifiers. Here, it is assumed that two radio links 32 that are indifferent carrier frequency bands will have different cell identifiersassociated with them.

Depending on the type of network 8, the configuration and capability ofthe UE 30, current reception conditions, current service types, etc.,the UE 30 may have a lesser or greater number of radio links 32 to theRAN 12. In any case, the teachings herein disclose various techniquesfor making timing-related measurements, including timing-based rangemeasurements, across two or more radio links 32 that are multifarious.As noted earlier herein, the term “enhanced timing measurement” is usedto connote a timing measurement that involves multifarious radio links32.

While the example UE 30 has enhanced timing measurement capabilities,not all UEs necessarily will have such capabilities. Further, differentUEs having enhanced measurement capabilities may not have the sameenhanced timing measurement capabilities. For example, certain UEs maybe limited in the range or span of frequencies that can be involved inmaking an enhanced timing measurement. Thus, it is contemplated hereinthat the enhanced timing measurement capabilities of a UE 30 and/or abase station 20 may need to be reported or otherwise indicated. It isfurther contemplated that the particular configuration used by a basestation 20 and/or a UE 30 for making an enhanced timing measurement mayneed to be configured, e.g., to comport with the enhanced timingmeasurement capabilities of the base station 20 and/or UE 30, or tootherwise select the radio links 32 or other measurement parameters thatare most favorable for the multifarious link scenario at issue. In thisregard, it will be appreciated that base stations 20 and UEs 30represent types of “radio nodes,” and that use of that term herein willbe understood as referring to either or both such types, unless aspecific distinction is provided in context.

In some embodiments, a radio node reports its enhanced timingmeasurement capabilities and the reported information is then used inconfiguring the enhanced timing measurement(s) to be made by thereporting radio node. For example, the enhanced timing measurementconfiguration is determined by the configuring node selecting theparticular radio carriers to be used. The enhanced timing measurementconfiguration is shared between the node that determined theconfiguration and the radio node making the multifarious link timingmeasurements. For example, see the positioning node 40 and/or the OMAnode 42 shown in FIG. 1. In some embodiments, either such node isconfigured to receive enhanced timing measurement capability informationfrom a radio node, and to return enhanced timing measurementconfiguration information to the radio node, where the configuration isbased on the reported capability and on network configurationinformation that, for example, indicates the multifarious radio linksthat are candidates for making an enhanced timing measurement at theradio node.

FIG. 3 provides a non-limiting example of such reporting andconfiguring. The depicted UE 30 is configured to report or otherwisesend its enhanced timing measurement capabilities and a positioning node40 in the network 8 receives this reported enhanced timing measurementcapability information. Thus, FIG. 3 further depicts enhanced timingmeasurement configuration information outgoing from the positioning node40 to the UE 30. As explained, the positioning node 40 determines suchconfiguration information based on the UE 30 reporting its enhancedtiming measurement capability information to the positioning node 40.Further, the positioning node 40 may consider knowledge of theparticular network configuration that is being used, or that will beused, to serve the UE 30, such as, for example, knowledge of thedifferent carrier frequencies and bandwidths, when determining theenhanced timing measurement configuration of the UE 30.

FIG. 3 also shows the enhanced timing measurement capability informationfor the UE 30 as passing through a base station 20, and shows thecorresponding enhanced timing measurement configuration informationpassing back through the base station 20, from the positioning node 40to the UE 30. Such information is carried, for example, transparentlythrough the base station 20 using a signaling protocol between thepositioning node 40 and the UE 30. Note that this might also apply tothe base station 24 and unless noted otherwise, references hereafter to“base station 20” can be understood as equivalently referring to thebase station 24 in FIG. 1.

On the other hand, FIG. 4 shows an example case where the base station20 receives enhanced timing measurement capability information from theUE 30 and configures the UE's enhanced timing measurement accordingly,and where the positioning node 40 receives enhanced timing measurementcapability information from the base station 20 for the base station 20and configures the base station's enhanced timing measurementaccordingly. In another variation, FIG. 4 can be understood as showingthe base station 20 receiving enhanced timing measurement capabilityinformation from the UE 30 in BS-to-UE signaling, and forwarding thatinformation to the positioning node 40 by conducting its own signalingexchange with the positioning node 40. In such cases, the base station20 receives enhanced timing measurement configuration information forthe UE 30 from the positioning node 40, and forwards that information onto the UE 30 via its own signaling exchange with the UE 30.

FIG. 5 illustrates that the positioning node 40 may configure enhancedtiming measurements for the base station 20, based on receiving enhancedtiming measurement capability information from the base station 20,irrespective of whether it also configures such timing measurements forone or more UEs 30. Indeed, it will be understood that the base stations20 and the UEs 30 do not necessarily make the same kinds of enhancedtiming measurements, nor do they necessarily use the same enhancedtiming measurement configurations, nor do they necessarily make suchmeasurements at the same time. Thus, the positioning node 40, an MME 14,an OMA node 42, or some other node in the network 8, may evaluateseparate enhanced timing measurement capability information from a basestation 20 and a UE 30 supported by that base station 20, and provideseparate enhanced timing measurement configuration information to thebase station 20 and the UE 30.

Of course, as noted, it is also taught herein that such a node evaluatesnetwork configuration information relevant to an enhanced timingmeasurement to be made by a radio node 20, 30, and considers thatinformation when determining the enhanced timing measurementconfiguration for the radio node 20, 30. In an example, the enhancedtiming measurement configuration specifies which ones of the candidateradio links 32 to use in making the timing measurements. The node in thenetwork 8 might, for example, consider the various frequency distancesbetween the different carrier frequencies associated with two or more ofthe radio links 32 available for use in making an enhanced timingmeasurement at the radio node 20, 30 and pick the particular radio links32 to be used for making the enhanced timing measurement based onminimizing the frequency distance. That approach minimizes thepropagation time differences of between radio links 32 in differentcarrier frequency bands.

The configurability of a radio node 20, 30 with respect to makingenhanced timing measurements on multifarious radio links and, indeed,the base ability of a radio node to make enhanced timing measurements atall, depends on the radio node architecture, e.g., its functionalcircuitry arrangements. In that regard, FIG. 6 illustrates an example UEconfiguration wherein the illustrated UE 30 comprises one or moretransmit/receive antennas 50, a wireless communication transceiver 52,and associated transmit/receive processing circuits 54, e.g.,microprocessor-based circuitry. The transmit/receive processing circuits54 include an enhanced timing determination circuit 56, which at leastfunctionally includes an enhanced timing measurement configuration andcontrol circuit 58, a receive (RX) timing measurement circuit 60 and/ora transmit (TX) timing measurement circuit 62, along with a relativetiming calculator 64 that is configured to interrelate the radio linktiming across two or more multifarious radio links 32.

FIG. 8 provides similar details for the base station 20, where the basestation 20 includes one or more transmit/receive antennas 70, a wirelesscommunication transceiver 72 and associated transmit/receive processingcircuits 74, one or more additional communication interfaces 76, such assidehaul and backhaul interfaces for communicating with other basestations 20 and other nodes in the network 8, respectively.

The transmit/receive processing circuits 74 include an enhanced timingdetermination circuit 80, which may provide the same or similarfunctionality as the enhanced timing determination circuit 56 in the UE30, in terms of making enhanced timing measurements, but which also maybe configured to determine the enhanced timing measurement configurationfor other radio nodes, e.g., UEs 30. Thus, the timing determinationcircuit 80 at least functionally includes an enhanced timing measurementconfiguration/control circuit 82, one or both of a RX timing measurementcircuit 84 and a TX timing measurement circuit 86, and a relative timingcalculator 88 that is configured to interrelate the radio link timingacross two or more multifarious radio links 32.

Thus, this disclosure teaches a first radio node 20, 30 that isconfigured for operation in a wireless communication network 8 andcomprises a wireless communication transceiver 52, 72 configured tocommunicate with an another radio node in the network 8 on a first radiolink 32-1 that is multifarious with respect to a second radio link 32-2that involves one of the first and second radio nodes 20, 30 and anotherradio node 20, 30. The first radio node 20, 30 further includes anenhanced timing determination circuit 56, 80 that is configured todetermine an enhanced timing measurement by interrelating radio linktiming across the first and second radio links 32-1, 32-2. For example,a UE 30 receives from a first base station 20-1 on a first radio link32-1 and transmits to a second base station 20-2 on a second radio link32-2, and the enhanced timing determination circuit 56 of the UE 30makes one or more enhanced timing measurements that interrelate radiolink timing across that uplink and downlink.

More broadly, for the case where the first radio link 32-1 istransmitted by the first radio node 20, 30, the second radio link 32-2is transmitted by the second radio node 20, 30, and for the case wherethe first radio link 32-1 is transmitted by the second radio node 20,30, the second radio link 32-2 is transmitted by the first radio node20, 30. Further, the enhanced timing determination circuit 56, 80 isconfigured to interrelate a receive timing measured or known for one ofthe first or second radio links 32-1, 32-2 with a transmit timingmeasured or known for the other one of the first or second radio links32-1, 32-2, thereby interrelating transmit and receive timings acrossthe different pairs of radio nodes 20, 30 and/or across the differentcell identifiers.

As another example, in cases where the first radio node 20, 30 includesan enhanced timing measurement configuration circuit 58, 82, such acircuit is operatively associated with the wireless communicationtransceiver 52, 72 and the enhanced timing determination circuit 56, 80.The enhanced timing measurement configuration circuit 58, 82 isconfigured to report an enhanced timing measurement capability of thefirst radio node 20, 30, so that one or more other radio nodes 20, 30and/or network nodes, e.g., positioning node 40 and/or OMA node 42, inthe network 8 are apprised of the enhanced timing measurement capabilityof the first radio node 20, 30.

Additionally, or alternatively, the enhanced timing measurementconfiguration circuit 58, 82 is configured to configure the enhancedtiming measurement to be made by the enhanced timing determinationcircuit 56, 80, in response to enhanced timing measurement configurationinformation received from another radio node 20, 30, or received from anetwork node, e.g., 40, 42, in the network 8. In an example, case,configuring the enhanced timing measurement includes at least one of:selecting which radio links 32 are used as said first and second links32-1, 32-2; and selecting a type of timing measurement to be performedas said enhanced timing measurement.

Thus, in at least some embodiments, the radio node 20, 30 selects firstand second radio links 32-1, 32-2 for use in making an enhanced timingmeasurement, based on the enhanced timing measurement configurationreceived by the radio node 20, 30. For example, the radio node 20, 30chooses which radio links 32 are used for making an enhanced timingmeasurement according to the enhanced timing measurement configuration.For example, the enhanced timing measurement configuration may include avalue indicating the maximum carrier frequency distance permissible, andthe radio node 20, 30 may select the multifarious radio links 32 used inthe enhanced timing measurement such that differences in carrierfrequencies do not exceed the maximum. Other requirements may beadditionally or alternatively indicated by the enhanced timingmeasurement configuration, and the radio node 20, 30 generally willconform its selection of radio links 32 in accordance with theconfiguration.

The radio node 20, 30 also may be configured to operate in a carrieraggregation (CA) or a coordinated multipoint (CoMP) configuration withrespect to a second radio node 20, 30, where the first radio link 32-1is a serving or primary carrier for the CA or CoMP configuration, andthe second radio link 32-2 is a secondary carrier for the CA or CoMPconfiguration. In another example, the first radio link 32-1 is at afirst frequency band and the second radio link 32-2 is at a different,second frequency band, said enhanced timing measurement therebyinterrelating radio link timing across the first and second frequencybands.

As further examples, the enhanced timing measurement comprises any oneof: an Rx-Tx time difference measurement that interrelates the first andsecond radio links 32-1, 32-2; a round trip time (RTT) measurement thatinterrelates the first and second radio links 32-1, 32-2; and a TimingAdvance or one-way propagation delay measurement for one of said firstand second radio links 32-1, 32-2 determined in dependence on a timingof the other one of said first and second radio links 32-1, 32-2. Insome embodiments, one of the two example multifarious radio links 32-1and 32-2 may be a first uplink or downlink between the first and secondradio nodes 20, 30 that is associated with a first cell identifier. Theother one of the two multifarious radio links 32-2 may be a seconduplink or downlink either between the first and second radio nodes 20,30 or between one of said first and second radio nodes 20, 30 andanother radio node in the wireless communication network 8. Here, thesecond uplink or downlink is associated with a second cell identifier,so that said enhanced timing measurement interrelates radio link timingacross the first and second cell identifiers. Still further, one of thetwo example multifarious radio links 32-1 and 32-2 may be an uplink ordownlink between the first and second radio nodes 20, 30 that isassociated with a first cell identifier. The other one of the twomultifarious radio links 32-2 may be in the opposite direction and be adownlink or uplink, either between the first and second radio nodes 20,30, or between one of said first and second radio nodes 20, 30 andanother radio node in the wireless communication network 8. Here, thesecond link is associated with a second cell identifier, so that saidenhanced timing measurement interrelates radio link timing across thefirst and second cell identifiers.

Still further, in some embodiments, the enhanced timing determinationcircuit 56, 80 is configured to compensate the enhanced timingmeasurement for at least one of: a cell timing misalignment betweendifferent cells 22 corresponding to different ones of the multifariousradio links 32 involved in the enhanced timing measurement; and afrequency-dependent propagation time difference between differentcarrier frequencies corresponding to different ones of the multifariousradio links 32 involved in the enhanced timing measurement.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method 700 of making enhanced timing measurementsat a radio node 20, 30. The method 700 is performed at a first radionode 20, 30 and includes communicating with a second radio node 20, 30via a first radio link 32-1 that is one of two or more multifariousradio links 32 involving the first and second radio nodes 20, 30 (Block702). The method 700 further includes determining an enhanced timingmeasurement that interrelates radio link timing across the two or moremultifarious radio links 32-1, 32-2 (Block 704). As an example, theradio node 20, 30 is a first base station 20 that has an uplink ordownlink with a UE 30, where that UE 30 has another uplink or downlink,possibly in the opposite direction with a second base station 20, andwhere the enhanced timing measurement by the first base station 20interrelates radio link timing across the uplink or downlink it has withthe UE and the other link the second base station 20 has with the UE 30.In this regard, the second base station 20 may share radio link timinginformation with the first base station 20, so that the first basestation 20 can determine the enhanced timing measurement.

With the above in mind, the method 900 shown in FIG. 9 can be understoodas a more detailed example of the method 700. The method 900 includesdetermining a transmit timing for one of first and second multifariousradio links 32-1 and 32-2 (Block 902), determining a receive timing forthe other one of the first and second radio links 32-1 and 32-2 (Block904), and calculating an RX/TX time difference from the RX and TXtimings (Block 906). This can be understood in an example case, as a UE30 interrelating the receive time of a radio frame received by the UE 30on the first radio link 32-1 with the transmit time of a radio frametransmitted by the UE 30 on the second radio link 32-2, so that theRX/TX time difference spans the different pairs of radio nodes and/ordifferent cell identifiers (Cell ID or CID) associated with the firstand second radio links 32-1 and 32-2.

Further, a given radio node 20, 30 reports enhanced timing measurementsfor any one or more operations, including one or more of: locationdetermination, network planning or optimization, configuration ofhandover parameters, and coordination of time-based scheduling by thenetwork 8. For example, the radio node 20, 30 is configured to reportthe enhanced timing measurement, or a value derived therefrom, to apositioning node 40, for use in determining a position of the UE 30.

The radio node 20, 30 is, in some embodiments, configured to compensateenhanced timing measurements. For example, the radio node 20, 30compensates an enhanced timing value for a timing misalignment or timealignment error between the multifarious radio links 32 involved in theenhanced timing measurement. Additionally, or alternatively, the radionode 20, 30 compensates the enhanced timing measurement according to afrequency-dependent compensation value corresponding to propagation timedifferences arising from the use of different frequencies between theinvolved multifarious radio links 32.

FIG. 10 illustrates a positioning node 40 according to one embodiment.It will be understood that this figure represents an example of a nodein the network 8 that is configured to provide enhanced timingmeasurement configuration services. The illustrated positioning node 40includes one or more processing circuits 90, associated signalingcircuitry 92, and one or more communication interfaces 94. In an exampleconfiguration, the one or more processing circuits 90 include, at leastin terms of logical or functional circuit arrangements, a configurationprocessor 96, which includes a capability evaluation circuit 98 andwhich also may be referred to as a capability evaluation unit, and aconfiguration selection circuit 100, which also may be referred to asconfiguration selection unit.

The communication interface(s) 94 are configured for communicating withbase stations 20 and/or with UEs 30. Correspondingly, the one or moreprocessing circuits 90 are configured to receive enhanced timingmeasurement capability information from a radio node 20, 30, and todetermine an enhanced timing measurement configuration to be used by theradio node 20, 30. For example, the capability evaluation circuit 98 isconfigured to evaluate the received capability and provide the resultsof that evaluation to the configuration selection circuit 100, forexample, which is configured to select or otherwise determine anenhanced timing measurement configuration to be used by the radio node20, 30. Such a determination may be made with further knowledge ofnetwork configuration information relevant to making an enhanced timingmeasurement at the radio node 20, 30.

The processing circuit(s) 90 are further configured to send signaling,e.g., via the signaling circuitry 92 and communication interfaces 94,that indicates the enhanced timing measurement configuration to theradio node 20, 30 in question. Such signaling will therefore beunderstood as controlling the enhanced timing measurement(s) performedby the radio node 20, 30.

The above functionality may also be implemented in a base station 20,for example, for use in configuring the enhanced timing measurements byUEs 30, and/or may be implemented in an OMA node 42, or other networknode. Regardless, FIG. 11 depicts a corresponding example method 1100,which includes receiving enhanced timing measurement capabilityinformation for a radio node 20, 30 (Block 1102). The enhanced timingmeasurement capability information indicates whether or to what extentthe radio node 20, 30 can make enhanced timing measurements involvingmultifarious radio links 32.

The method 1100 further includes determining an enhanced timingmeasurement configuration to be used by the radio node 20, 30, based onsaid enhanced timing measurement capability information and furtherbased on network configuration information applicable to enhanced timingmeasurements to be made by the radio node (Block 1104), and sendingsignaling indicating said enhanced timing measurement configuration tothe radio node 20, 30, to control the enhanced timing measurementsperformed by the radio node 20, 30 (Block 1106).

The method 1100 also may include compensating an enhanced timingmeasurement for one or more of cell timing differences andfrequency-dependent propagation time differences between themultifarious radio links 32 on which the enhanced timing measurement isbased. Still further, the method 1100 may include determining theenhanced timing measurement configuration by selecting whichmultifarious radio links 32 are to be used by the radio node 20, 30 inmaking the enhanced timing measurement, where the selecting is based onminimizing a frequency distance between two or more of the multifariousradio links 32 that are to be used.

Broadly, the signaling described immediately above and elsewhere hereinis either via direct links or logical links, e.g. via higher layerprotocols and/or via one or more network nodes. In an LTE-based exampleinvolving signaling between an E-SMLC and a Location Services (LCS)client, a positioning result may be transferred via multiple nodes,e.g., at least via an MME and/or a Gateway Mobile Location Center(GMLC).

Additionally, it should be understood by one skilled in the art that“UE” as used herein is a non-limiting term that means any wirelessdevice or node capable of receiving in the DL and transmitting in theUL, e.g. PDA, laptop, mobile, sensor, fixed relay, mobile relay or evena radio base station, e.g., a femto base station.

Further, the term “positioning node” should be construed broadly. In anLTE example, the positioning node 40 comprises a positioning platform inthe user plane, e.g., SLP in LTE, or a positioning node in the controlplane, e.g., E-SMLC in LTE. The SLP may also consist of an SLC and SPC,where the SPC may also have a proprietary interface with the E-SMLC.Here, SLP denotes a “SUPL Location Platform,” SPC denotes a SUPLPositioning Center, E-SMLC denotes “Evolved Serving Mobile LocationCenter,” and SUPL denotes “Secure User Plane Location.”

As noted for this disclosure, the term “radio node” denotes basestations 20 and UEs 30 and should be given broad construction unless anarrower understanding it disclosed in context. Non-limiting examples ofradio nodes in the LTE case include eNodeBs or home eNodeBs. Of course,such nodes also may be a macro/micro/pico base station, a relay node,beacon device, or repeater.

A radio node 20, 30 may operate in one or more frequencies or frequencybands, and thus may provide or use more than one carrier. Further, abase station 20 or UE 30 may be capable of CA-based operation. A radionode 20, 30 as contemplated herein may also be a single- or multi-RATnode, where RAT denotes “Radio Access Technology”. A multi-RAT versionof a radio node 20, 30 supports multi-standard radio (MSR), or mayotherwise be a mixed radio node that is configured to communicate viatwo or more RATs.

Several of the above examples were cast in the LTE context and theteachings herein offer advantages in that context. However, theteachings herein are not limited to LTE. Indeed, they apply toessentially any type of Radio Access Network (RAN), including thoseusing single- or multi-RAT access. Examples of other applicable networktypes include but are not limited to LTE Advanced, UMTS, HSPA, GSM,cdma2000, HRPD, WiMAX, and WiFi.

This broad applicability highlights one of the several advantages of theteachings presented herein. In particular, in conventional approaches totiming measurements involving more than one radio link, it is generallyassumed that such timing measurements will involve, e.g., DL and ULsignals associated with co-located transmission and reception points andDL and UL signals associated with the same cell identification. In otherwords, a conventional determination of radio link timing across anuplink and a downlink assumes that the uplink and downlink are betweenthe same base station and UE and that the uplink and the downlink areassociated with the same cell identifier, which implies, among otherthings, that the uplink and downlink are in the same carrier frequencyband.

In contrast, the methods and apparatus disclosed herein enable enhancedtiming measurements involving multifarious radio links. It will beappreciated that the ability to determine such enhanced timingmeasurements across radio links 32 involving different RATs, celllocations and/or IDs, different carrier frequencies/frequency bands,etc., enable a radio node 20, 30 configured according to the teachingsherein to make enhanced timing measurements within heterogeneousnetworks, including measurements between or across heterogeneouscells—e.g., to interrelate radio link timing across a macro-celldownlink and an pico-cell uplink, or vice versa.

This ability further contrasts with conventional timing measurements,which as a general proposition do not make enhanced timing measurementsacross heterogeneous radio links. More specifically, conventionalapproaches to making radio link timing measurements are based on themeasurements involving “homogeneous links,” meaning that the involved ULand DL belong to the same cell, the same band, the same RAT, or the samelocation and PCC, for both UL and DL measurement, or SCC, for both ULand DL measurement.

By way of example, according to this disclosure, enhanced timingmeasurements can be made across or between two or more radio links 32that are opposite in terms of uplink and downlink transmit directionsand are: associated with different cells 22 in the same frequency band;associated with different cells 22 belonging to different frequencybands and/or different RATs; associated with different pairings of radionodes 20, 30, e.g., in DAS or CoMP systems, or systems employing RRHs,having the same or different carrier frequencies; associated with cells22 having multiple transmitters and/or multiple receivers, where morethan one transmitter and/or more than receiver may be associated withthe same cell 22; associated with a cell 22 or cells 22 belonging toComponent Carrier CC1 with frequency f11 and CC2 with f22, respectively,in a CA service scenario, e.g., where carrier frequencies f11 and f22belong to different bands; or radio links 32 involving the Pcell, or anyother cell 22 on the PCC, and involving the Scell, or any other cell onthe SCC, respectively, in a CA service scenario, or vice versa.

Of course, it will be understood that determining enhanced timingmeasurements for multifarious radio links can also be applied tocombinations of the immediately foregoing examples. Further, the abovescenarios apply to timing measurements done by a UE 30 and/or by a basestation 20. The disclosed enhanced timing measurements interrelate radiolink timing on multifarious radio links 32, thereby leading to betterperformance in several practical scenarios. For example, assume that aDL measurement component of the timing measurement is performed for cell1 and the corresponding UL measurement component of the same timingmeasurement is performed for cell 2. In this case, at least thefollowing situations may be envisioned: cell 1 and cell 2 may or may notbe characterized by the same cell identifier; the transmission point ofcell 1 (DL) and the receiving point of cell 2 (UL) may or may not beco-located; the receiving point of cell 1 (DL) and the transmissionpoint of cell 2 (UL) may or may not be co-located; cell 1 and cell 2 maybelong to the same or different carrier frequencies, carrier components,bands, RATs, etc.; one of cell 1 or cell 2 may be the serving cell orPcell in a CA system configuration; at least one of cell 1 or cell 2 maybelong to the serving carrier frequency or primary carrier component ina CA system configuration.

In the case where a DL timing measurement is performed for cell 1 and anUL timing measurement is performed for cell 2, such multifariousmeasurements may be used, e.g., for eNodeB Rx-Tx measurements, such asin DAS or CoMP service scenarios. Similarly, the multifarious linktiming measurement teachings herein permit radio links 32 associatedwith different pairs of UL reception and DL transmission points to beused for UE Rx-Tx measurements, such as in DAS or CoMP servicescenarios.

Further examples of radio links 32 that are multifarious include these:although cell 1 and cell 2 are co-located, the UL is associated withcell 2 and operates on frequency f22, while the DL is associated withcell 1 and operates on frequency f11; the UL is associated with cell 2on frequency f21 and the DL is associated with cell 1 on frequency f11,and cells 1 and 2 are not co-located; the UL is associated with cell 2on frequency f21 and the DL is associated with cell 1 on f11 and thecells 1 and 2 are not co-located; the DL is associated with cell 1 andis on frequency f11, the UL is associated with cell 2 and is onfrequency f21, where the cells 1 and 2 have different cell identifiers,such as used in the case where the UL and DL cell coverage/service areasdiffer; the DL is associated with cell 1 and operates on frequency f11and the UL is also associated with cell 1, operating on frequency f21,but there are multiple UL transmitters and DL receivers.

Note that these Frequency Duplex Division (FDD) examples arenon-limiting and similar examples apply to Time Division Duplex (TDD)bands. Further, note that “fxy” as used in the immediately aboveexamples denotes a carrier frequency of “x” belonging to frequency band“y”. In the case of FDD or HD-FDD, “x” is different for signalstransmitted in the uplink and downlink. For example in FDD, frequenciesf11 and f21 correspond to uplink and downlink carriers respectivelybelonging to FDD band 1. Similarly, in TDD, frequencies f13 correspondsto both uplink and downlink carriers belonging to TDD band 3.

In one further example embodiment, there may be a split into multiplecarriers within one frequency band, e.g., any of band 1 and band 40,which are among the defined E-UTRA frequency bands identified in 3GPP TS36.104, v10.2. Splitting within one frequency band permits, for example,the use of two or more carrier components (CCs) to enable intra-bandcontiguous CA. The enhanced timing measurements described herein formultifarious radio links may therefore also be defined over any two ofthe CCs within any of the bands, i.e., such measurements may beintra-band measurements. In another example, the timing measurementsdescribed herein may be defined for inter-band non-contiguous CCs, e.g.in operating bands 1 and 5.

Another aspect of the teachings herein involves the configuration of aradio node 20, 30 to make enhanced timing measurements. Various criteriamay be considered for selecting the multifarious radio links 32 suitablefor making enhanced timing measurements involving at least an uplinkmeasurement by the radio node 20, 30. Example information to considerinclude the frequencies, CCs, bands, RATs, etc. selected for making anenhanced timing measurement are chosen, for example, based on acomparison of the available cells 22, frequencies, bands, and RATinformation for the multifarious radio links 32 available for making theenhanced timing measurement. Such information may be regarded as“network configuration information,” and may be considered whendetermining an enhanced timing measurement configuration, to control theenhanced timing measurement made by a radio node 20, 30.

It is also contemplated herein that network configuration information isprovided to a positioning node 40, OMA node 42, or other node in thenetwork 8 that provides enhanced timing measurement configurationservices, where such a node evaluates the network configurationinformation applicable to enhanced timing measurements made or to bemade at a radio node 20, 30.

In one example, an enhanced timing measurement configuration defines orotherwise limits the absolute frequency difference permitted between DLand UL links. Such information establishes at a base station 20 and/orat a UE 30 which radio links 32 are available for selection among themultifarious radio links 32 that are candidates for use in an enhancedtiming measurement. The absolute frequency difference may be indicatedas a threshold, or the rule may be to select radio links 32 that yieldthe smallest frequency difference, e.g., to select multifarious pairingsof radio links 32 that have the smallest frequency distances.

Additionally, or alternatively, the enhanced timing measurementconfiguration includes a parameter or other indication relating to thedistance difference between a transmission point in the DL and areceiving point in the UL, or a transmission point in the UL and areceiving point in the DL. In this regard, the enhanced timingmeasurement configuration may indicate that the entity making theenhanced timing measurement should select radio links 32 that yield thesmallest distance difference, or that result in a distance differencethat does not exceed a certain threshold.

In another example, for UEs 30 requiring measurement gaps on at leastsome frequencies or CCs, the enhanced timing measurement configurationmay be structured to avoid the need for using measurement gaps, if theyare not currently used, or avoiding reconfiguring any already configuredmeasurement gaps. It is also emphasized that the association between DLand UL for a frequency band or frequency carrier is typically eitherpre-defined or determined from system information, e.g., known fromsystem information broadcast, e.g., for CA systems. In some embodiments,the DL and UL frequencies/bands/RATs configured for use in makingenhanced timing measurements may be different from a combination that ispre-defined or determined by the general system configuration.Therefore, it may not be sufficient to provide only the DL or only theUL information to the entity configuring enhanced timing measurements.Likewise, it may be insufficient to provide only the DL or only the ULfrequency information in enhanced timing measurement configurationinformation sent to a base station 20 and/or a UE 30, or when reportingan enhanced timing measurement from a radio node 20, 30 to another node.

As another consideration, the capabilities (or lack thereof) of anentity, e.g., a base station 20 or UE 30, regarding its ability to makeenhanced timing measurements on radio links 32 that are multifarious maybe used when selecting or otherwise generating enhanced timingmeasurement configuration information. Example reporting includes theseitems: a UE (30) reporting to an eNB using Radio Resource Control (RRC)signaling; an eNB reporting to another eNB using X2 or RRC signaling;reporting to a core network node, e.g. an MME using NAS signaling; andreporting to a positioning node 40, e.g. to an E-SMLC using apositioning protocol such as LPP, LPPe, LPPa, etc. Thus, a UE 30 mayreport its enhanced timing measurement capability information to a basestation 20, which may forward it or share it with another base station20, a positioning node 40, or another network node, such as an MME 14 orOMA node 42. In one example, indicating the “capability” of a UE 30 tomake enhanced timing measurements includes indicating whether or to whatextent the UE 30 can make timing measurements on multiplefrequencies/bands.

Additionally or alternatively, enhanced timing measurement capabilitiesmay be defined as any one or more of: general capabilities, e.g.,communicated via RRC or through the S1 interface or X2 or similarinterface; service-specific capabilities, e.g. positioning capabilitiessuch as common positioning capabilities or E-CID positioningcapabilities, e.g., communicated via LPP, LPPe or LPPa or similarinterface between a coordinating node and radio node or X2 or similarinterface; and deployment-specific capabilities, e.g., HetNet- or CoMP-or DAS-related capabilities or capabilities related to the use of relaysor sensors.

The capabilities may also be associated with the support of CAfunctionality. Such capabilities may be defined for any one or more of:a UE 30, a base station 20, such as e.g., eNodeB, LMU, relay, femto CSGbase station, etc., another type of network node, such as e.g.,positioning node 40, OMA 42, SON, etc. Note that although network nodestypically do not perform radio measurements, they may still comprise,e.g., processing units that enable processing of enhanced timingmeasurements.

In other examples, enhanced timing measurement capabilities include orrelate to any one or more of these items: support of a timingmeasurement based on specific physical or reference signals or physicalor logical channels, e.g., Sounding Reference Signals (SRS) common, SRSdedicated, Cell Specific Reference Signals (CRS), synchronizationsignals, Demodulation Reference Signals (DM RS), DL data channel, ULdata channel, DL control channel, UL control channel; support ofintra-band timing measurements with DL measurements on carrier frequencyor CC f1 and UL measurements on carrier frequency or CC f2; and supportof inter-band timing measurements with DL measurements on carrierfrequency or CC f11 and UL measurements on carrier frequency or CC f22,or vice versa, where the multifarious support may also be limited to acertain combination of frequency bands or for certain band combinations,e.g., only for band 17+band 2 or band 13+band 2, etc. Additionally, oralternatively, the enhanced measurement timing capabilities include anyof the following abilities: DL and UL measurements can be performed ondifferent cells 22 belonging to different carrier frequencies when theradio link 32 on one carrier frequency is not between the sametransmit/receive pair of nodes as the radio link 32 on another carrierfrequency or where the different radio links 32 involve different, nonco-located base stations 20; DL and UL measurements can be performed onradio links 32 associated with different CCs in CA; DL and ULmeasurements can be performed on cells 22 belonging to differentfrequency bands; DL and UL measurements can be performed on cells 22belonging to different RATs, the RATs may also be specified in theenhanced measurement capability information, e.g., a UE 30 supportingGSM, HSPA and LTE may only support this measurement capability forHSPA/LTE; DL and UL measurements can be performed on cells 22 or radiolinks 32 associated with different cell identifications or nodeidentifications, including cells 22 on the same frequency or CC; DL andUL measurements for a combination of frequencies or CCs or bands or RATswhich are different, e.g., from a predefined combination or from acombination indicated in broadcast system information; DL and ULmeasurements can be performed on radio links 32 associated with nonco-located DL transmitter and UL receiver; DL and UL measurements can beperformed on radio links 32 associated with non co-located ULtransmitter and DL receiver; DL and UL measurements can be performed onradio links 32 associated with multiple non co-located DL transmittersand/or UL receivers; DL and UL measurements can be performed on radiolinks 32 associated with Primary Component Carrier (PCC) or Pcell andSecondary Component Carrier (SCC) or Scell respectively, or vice versa,or both.

Any of the above enhanced timing measurement capabilities may beassociated with another such capability. For example, a specific timingmeasurement type may be supported by a node for certain frequencyband(s), band combination(s), type of carrier aggregation, e.g.intra-band, inter-band, intra-band non-contiguous, etc., andtransmission and/or reception antenna configurations etc. As an example,assume a UE 30 supports E-UTRA bands 1, 5, 7 and 8. The same UE 32 mayreport enhanced timing measurement capability information indicatingthat it supports certain capabilities, e.g. measurements on DL/ULsignals from non co-located sites, only for band 1 and band 8. It mayalso be predefined that certain capabilities are only supported forcertain bands or band combinations, such as where UEs 30 are required tosupport DL/UL measurement across different bands only for bands above 1GHz.

Further, enhanced timing measurement capabilities may also relate to theability to support spatial diversity, e.g., with CoMP, RRH, MIMO, etc.Such capabilities can be indicated in signaling sent from a UE 30 and/orbase station 20, and can be forwarded to or otherwise shared with apositioning node 40. The positioning node 40 may be responsible forpositioning related tasks only, but it also may perform other tasks.Examples of such other tasks are configuration of measurements relatedto SON, MDT, network planning etc. Positioning node examples includethese items: an E-SMLC or SLP in LTE; a MDT node, which may alsoconfigure and use positioning measurements; a SON node, which may alsoconfigure and use positioning measurements; and a network planning andconfiguring node, which may also configure and use positioningmeasurements.

The spatial diversity capabilities and/or other enhanced timingmeasurement capabilities may be provided by a UE 30 and/or base station20 without request or upon receiving an implicit or explicit request. Inan example, a request for enhanced timing measurement capabilityinformation is sent to a UE 30 or to a base station 20, e.g., by apositioning node 40. Alternatively, another node or entity in thenetwork 8 sends the request, e.g., a SON, MDT, OMA, OSS, etc.

It will also be understood that, in an example case, a base station 20reports, e.g., to a positioning node 40, not only its own enhancedtiming measurement capabilities, but also the enhanced timingmeasurement capabilities of a UE 30. Even where suchreporting/forwarding is not used, it will be appreciated that there aremany different multifarious cases or scenarios, e.g., for CoMP or RRHscenarios, including single carrier, intra-band multi-carrier, i.e., theaggregation of different carriers on different links, inter-band, softcombining, selective combining, etc. Hence, there may be differentenhanced timing measurement capabilities for the base station 20 and/orthe UE 30 for each such case or scenario.

As an example, a first UE 30 may support only intra-band CoMP andintra-band RRH, while another UE 30 supports only inter-band CoMP andinter-band RRH, and yet another UE 30 has all of the capabilities of thefirst and second UEs 30. Similarly, a first base station 20 may supportonly intra-band CoMP and RRH capabilities, while another base station 20supports all CoMP and RRH capabilities. This scenario means that anexample positioning node 40 will be configured to take into account bothUE and base station capabilities when configuring a UE 30 to perform oneor more enhanced timing measurements associated with multifarious radiolinks.

The base station 20 may even report the spatial diversity capabilitiesof the neighboring base stations 20 to a positioning node 40. Suchreporting is particularly useful in that certain spatial diversityschemes, e.g. CoMP, RRH, etc., involve multiple radio links 32 andmultiple base stations 20. In particular, the positioning node 40 mayrequest the serving base station 20 of a particular UE 30 to report itsown enhanced timing measurement capabilities and those of itsneighboring base stations 20.

Another example involves a “master” node, e.g., a macro eNodeB,reporting the enhanced timing measurement capabilities of other basestations 20 that are within its coverage area. As an example, a macrobase station 20 reports the enhanced timing measurement capabilities ofany femto or pico eNodeBs positioned within its macro coverage area.

Further, it may be pre-defined that UEs 30 supporting certain spatialcapability, e.g. CoMP, also support certain enhanced timingmeasurements, e.g., UE Rx-Tx time difference measurement overmultifarious radio links. For example, this type of pre-defined rule canbe imposed by specifying the performance requirements associated withmaking an enhanced timing measurement, e.g., measurement requirementssuch as measurement period, reporting delay, accuracy requirements etc.The pre-defined rule may also explicitly state that a UE 30 supportingcertain spatial diversity schemes, e.g., CoMP, RRH, etc., shall alsosupport certain types of enhanced timing measurements—i.e., it shallsupport certain enhanced timing measurements determined from two or moreradio links 32 that are multifarious.

In at least one embodiment contemplated herein, the enhanced timingmeasurement capabilities described above are associated with other moregeneral capabilities. For example, it may be required that all UEs 30supporting carrier aggregation also support at least one of the enhancedtiming measurements described herein for multifarious radio links. Inanother example, UEs 30 or base stations 20 supporting enhanced MIMO maybe required to support at least one of the enhanced timing measurementsdescribed herein for multifarious radio links. In another example, UEs30 or base stations 20 capable of operating in certain bands may need tosupport at least one of the enhanced timing measurements describedherein for multifarious radio links. In another example, all UEs 30supporting CoMP shall be required to support at least one of theenhanced timing measurements described herein for multifarious radiolinks.

Further, the above association of general capabilities, e.g., radiocapabilities, and enhanced timing measurement capabilities may bepredefined by the associated relevant standards. The associations canalso be realized by appropriately defining the performance requirements,e.g. measurement and accuracy requirements, for certain timingmeasurements.

Also note that enhanced timing measurement capability reporting may notbe needed in cases where certain enhanced timing measurementcapabilities are required to be supported whenever certain generalcapabilities are supported. For example, if a UE 30 supports CA, then itmay also be required to support one or more enhanced timing measurementsinvolving multifarious radio links. As such, the network 8 will “know”that the UE 30 possesses at least the required enhanced timingmeasurement capabilities when the network 8 is apprised of the UE'sability to support CA.

For cases where enhanced timing measurement capabilities are reported,it should be noted that UE 30 and/or base stations 20 may reportcapability information proactively or only when requested or otherwisetriggered. For example, a UE 30 may report its enhanced timingmeasurement capability during initial access procedures, or when settingup a service-related session, e.g. a positioning session. Furthermore,in some embodiments, an eNB or other base station 20 may solicitcapability information from the UE 30 at any time.

As for acquiring network configuration information relevant to assessingor otherwise determining an enhanced timing measurement configuration,one or more entities, e.g., a positioning node 40, a base station 20,may acquire information indicating the actual radio configurationcurrently used or otherwise configured by the network 8, with respect toone or more base stations 20 and/or one or more UEs 30. The informationcan be acquired from one or more entities in the network 8, such aseNodeBs, RNCs, NodeBs, relay nodes, base stations/controllers, or fromone or more UEs 30, or from a centralized node.

An example method of acquiring the network configuration informationrelevant to determining an enhanced timing measurement configuration isas follows:

(1) Identify the need for performing a timing measurement with at leastone uplink, e.g., based on one or more of: a request from a positioningmethod selection entity, in association with a certain positioningmethod; periodically, upon a timer indication; on a random accessattempt, e.g. when receiving a preamble; on intra-frequency,inter-frequency or inter-RAT handover or carrier switching in a CAsystem; on activation/deactivation of cells 22 in a CA system for uplinkand/or downlink, e.g. an indication to indicate whether secondarycell(s) 22 on secondary uplink and/or downlink carriers are activated ordeactivated; on link activation/deactivation in a CoMP or general DAS,or RRH or RRU, system, e.g., an indication to indicate whether radiolink(s) 32 in uplink and/or downlink in CoMP or DAS systems areactivated or deactivated; on changing the state from the IDLE to theCONNECTED mode; or to adjust the UE timing, etc.

(2) Identify the need for configuring the necessary signals to enablethis timing measurement, comprising, e.g., at least: identifying thefrequencies over which the measurement is to be performed; andidentifying the nodes and/or cells to be involved in the measurement.

(3) Identify the need for acquiring the information related to theenhanced timing measurement capability of nodes and/or UE 30 to beinvolved in the measurement, which may comprise, for example: based onthe identified nodes/cells and frequencies, identifying the missinginformation related to the enhanced timing measurement capabilitiesdescribed herein.

(4) Acquire and compare the current configuration of the nodes/cells tobe involved with a necessary configuration for performing an enhancedtiming measurement and identifying whether the current configuration issufficient.

This latter step may involve checking whether the information has beenrecently received e.g., from the involved nodes or SON node. If not, themethod includes requesting information from a UE 30 or other involvednode(s). The request may include a request for: the nodes/cells andfrequencies associated with the current or potential CoMP or CA session;information about the necessary UL signals, e.g., whether SRS areconfigured or RACH may be used; information about necessary DL signals,e.g., CRS or dedicated RS; information related to interferenceconditions and interference coordination, e.g., whether HetNet isdeployed on this frequency and whether enhanced interferencecoordination, such as ABS, is possible; activated/deactivated cells in aCA system in the uplink and/or downlink; activated/deactivated links 32in the uplink and/or downlink in CoMP or DAS, or RRU or RRH, systems,etc.

Like in CA operation, it is also assumed that in CoMP and DASdeployments that comprise multiple radio links 32, one or more suchlinks can be activated and deactivated by the supporting base station(s)20. The deactivation is done by, e.g., an eNB using lower layersignaling, e.g. over the PDCCH. Such signaling may be a short commandsuch as ON/OFF, e.g., using 1 bit for each radio link 32. Theactivation/deactivation command is sent to a UE 30 via the primary link.Typically the deactivation is done when there is no data to transmit onthe secondary link(s), and this is one example timing measurements thatmay not be based on data transmissions. The activation/deactivation canbe done independently on uplink and downlink secondary links, and thisfact creates another aspect of the teachings presented herein fortwo-directional, enhanced timing measurements, e.g., Rx-Tx measurements.As the activations/deactivations change the radio configuration,corresponding enhanced timing measurement configurations and relatedinformation may be updated and/or exchanged as needed.

In a more general discussion of exchanging of network configurationinformation relevant to enhanced timing measurements at a base station20 and/or a UE 30, it should be appreciated that parallel reporting maybe used. For example, a base station 20 configures certain enhanced UEmeasurements involving multifarious radio links and indicates such to apositioning node 40. Similarly, a positioning node 40 may signal theinformation regarding enhanced UE timing measurements to a base station20, or, more generally, any one or more nodes or entities in the network8 exchange enhanced timing measurement configuration information for abase station 20 and/or a UE 30, and/or they exchange networkconfiguration information that is relevant to determining an enhancedtiming measurement configuration for a base station 20 and/or a UE 30.Such other nodes include an MDT node, a SON node, etc.

Such signaling enables network nodes, e.g., eNB, positioning node 40, tobe aware of parallel measurements that a UE 30 or another base station20 is presently performing. A UE 30 generally can handle a certainnumber of total timing measurements in parallel. There will alsotypically be a limit in terms of the total number of parallel UEenhanced timing measurements that can be performed. The network nodethat receives such information can determine the number of additionalparallel reporting criteria that can be configured. The network node canalso de-configure some of the existing ones to allow for configuring newenhanced timing measurements at the UE 30. This is particularly usefulin case there are no pre-defined requirements for all enhanced timingmeasurements possible at the UE 30.

Further focusing on exchanging of parallel criteria related to theconfiguring and performing enhanced timing measurements, it iscontemplated herein to exchange information about the enhanced timingmeasurement capabilities of a radio node or nodes 20, 30, and toenhanced timing measurement configuration information, e.g., from apositioning node 40, OMA 42, SON, etc. In particular, it is taughtherein that network nodes exchange information about the configuredenhanced timing measurements involving multifarious radio links 32,including parallel reporting criteria currently used or configured.

Consider these example cases: a base station 20 configures certainenhanced timing measurements at a UE 30 for two or more multifariousradio links 32, and indicates this configuration to a positioning node40; or a positioning node 40 signals information indicating an enhancedtiming measurement configuration for a UE 30 to base station 20; or anMDT node or SON or positioning node 40 signals enhanced timingmeasurement configuration information for one base station 20 to anotherbase station 20. Further, in another example, a UE or another radio nodesignals the information about the enhanced timing measurements whichare: configured by the first node (e.g. eNB) to the second node (e.g.positioning node); or configured by the second node (e.g. positioningnode) to the first node (e.g. eNode B).

The above signaling mechanisms enable various nodes in the network 8(e.g. eNB, positioning node) to be aware of parallel measurements thatUE 30 or base station 20 is presently performing. The UE 30 can handlecertain number of total timing measurements in parallel and there willtypically be a limit in terms of total number of parallel UE enhancedtiming measurements with multifarious radio links 32. The node whichreceives the above information about the enhanced timing measurementsalong with conventionally exchanged information (i.e., configured orpre-defined reporting criteria of conventional timing measurements) candetermine the number of additional parallel reporting criteria that canbe configured. The node can also de-configure some of the existing,conventional timing measurements to allow for configuring new enhancedtiming measurements. This is particularly useful in case there are nopre-defined requirements for all possible enhanced UE measurements.

Of course, as noted earlier herein, the enhanced timing measurementconfiguration(s) used at a UE 30 or other radio node will depend on theenhanced timing measurement capabilities of the UE 30 and on the networkconfiguration that is in play. Acquired/obtained enhanced timingmeasurement capabilities of the UE 30 and/or a base station 20 include:information regarding the support for spatial diversity and/or themultifarious radio links in use or available for use at the UE 30 and/orbase station 20. Example of associated parameters to be configured aspart of determining an enhanced timing measurement configuration arefrequency bands associated with UL and DL measurements, cell identifiersof cells associated with UL and DL measurements, RATs associated with ULand DL measurements, location of transmit or receive points, etc.

As another example of configuring enhanced timing measurements, considerthe following method, which includes the steps of: (1) configure theidentified nodes/cells and/or UE to enable an enhanced timingmeasurement or measurements, including communicating enhanced timingmeasurement configuration information to the relevant nodes; (2)configure the UE and/or base station to perform the desired enhancedtiming measurement(s); (3) receive the measurement(s) and any additionalinformation, e.g., where the enhanced timing measurement involvesspatial diversity, such may be indicated to trigger or support specialprocessing, such as the application of a timing compensation to accountfor cell timing misalignment for example; (4) store the measurement for,for example, use with a radio measurement map, e.g., AECID map or SONmap or MDT map; and (5) process the measurement where such processingmay be determined by the enhanced timing measurement configuration orbased on how the enhanced timing measurement was performed, e.g., RAT,frequencies, spatial diversity, etc.

It is contemplated herein that such processing may involve compensatingan enhanced timing measurement obtained via an enhanced timingmeasurement involving radio links 32 that are multifarious. For example,because of the physical aspects of radio signal propagation, the signalpropagation times may be different for different frequencies anddifferent frequency bands. 3GPP standards provide an example of sucherror sources. Such standards specify that the timing error between anyCCs belonging different bands can be up to 1.3 s. This timing differencemeans that an enhanced timing measurement determined for such CCs mayneed to be compensated for the timing difference.

More generally, when an enhanced timing measurement is made for signalsat different frequencies, that measurement may include an error arisingfrom differences in the radio signal propagation times associated withthe different frequencies. This aspect can be incorporated into enhancedtiming measurement configurations, e.g., by restricting the maximumfrequency difference permitted between multifarious radio links 32 thatare candidates for use in making an enhanced timing measurement.

Additionally, or alternatively, time alignment error between the radiolinks 32 used in CA, CoMP, DAS, RRH, RRU, etc., may be compensated. Thecompensation can be based on predetermined timing measurementrequirements or on a current set of requirements. The compensation canbe applied by a UE 30, by a base station 20, or by another entity, suchas a positioning node 40. Compensation may comprise an offset oradjustment value, which may either be subtracted or added, depending onthe reference frequency or the reference location. Thus, another aspectof the teachings herein is that the reference location and/or referencefrequency are selected according to a pre-defined rule, e.g. such as anyone or more of the below: the reference frequency is the lowest of theDL and UL frequencies; the reference frequency is a pre-definedfrequency, e.g., corresponding to 700 MHz; the reference frequency isthat corresponding to the serving cell frequency or primary CC; thereference location is that corresponding to the closest cell; thereference location is that corresponding to the serving cell or Pcell;the reference frequency and/or reference location are associated with DLtransmissions; or the reference frequency and/or reference location areassociated with UL transmissions.

The amount of compensation applied to an enhanced timing measurement canbe decided by the internal implementation of the entity applying thecompensation, or it may be configured according to signaling receivedfrom another entity. The timing compensation applied to a given enhancedtiming measurement also may be determined from a pre-defined mappingrelating the amount of compensation to the frequency difference,distance difference, etc. Timing compensation values also may bedetermined from timing measurement statistics collected in the network 8and/or the UE 30. In a UE timing adjustment example—see TS 36.331—theamount of the timing adjustment signaled to the UE 30 is based on thetiming measurement statistics collected in the network 8.

With the above in mind, the teachings disclosed herein provide a numberof advantages, including but not limited to more flexibility formulti-carrier systems and/or various deployments such as DAS/CoMP,relays, etc. Further advantages are provided in that such teachingsenable enhanced timing measurements involving frequency bands for whichthe UL may be not configured, e.g., standalone DL only band 700 MHzservice, which has no UL carrier. Such a DL band may be linked with oneor more UL carriers belonging to another band, e.g. to band 2 or band 4in the E-UTRAN band definitions. Still further, one or more embodimentspresented herein enables UL and DL measurements on cells/radio links/CCsbelonging to different bands, or where the different radio links involvedifferent, non co-located pairs of DL transmission and UL receptionpoints, etc.

Notably, modifications and other embodiments of the disclosedinvention(s) will come to mind to one skilled in the art having thebenefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and theassociated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that theinvention(s) is/are not to be limited to the specific embodimentsdisclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended tobe included within the scope of this disclosure. Although specific termsmay be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive senseonly and not for purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A first radio node configured for operation in awireless communication network and comprising: a wireless communicationtransceiver configured to communicate with a second radio node in thewireless communication network via a first multifarious radio link thatis multifarious with respect to a second multifarious radio link thatinvolves the first or second radio node; and an enhanced timingdetermination circuit configured to determine an enhanced timingmeasurement by interrelating radio link timing across the first andsecond multifarious radio links; wherein said first multifarious radiolink is multifarious with respect to the second multifarious radio linkbecause the second multifarious radio link is opposite in terms ofuplink and downlink transmit directions with respect to the firstmultifarious radio link and further because the second multifariousradio link is associated with a different cell identifier than the firstmultifarious radio link and because the second multifarious radio linkis between either the first radio node and another radio node that isnot said second radio node or is between the second radio node andanother radio node that is not said first radio node, and wherein thefirst radio node further comprises an enhanced timing measurementconfiguration circuit that is operatively associated with the wirelesscommunication transceiver and the enhanced timing determination circuitand is configured to perform at least one of: reporting an enhancedtiming measurement capability of the first radio node, so that one ormore other radio nodes and/or network nodes in said wirelesscommunication network are apprised of said enhanced timing measurementcapability; and configuring the enhanced timing measurement to be madeby the enhanced timing determination circuit in response to enhancedtiming measurement configuration information received from another radionode or network node in the wireless communication network, wherein theenhanced timing measurement configuration information includes a valueindicating the maximum carrier frequency distance permissible, whereinconfiguring the enhanced timing measurement includes: selecting which ofthe first and second multifarious radio links that are to be used inmaking the enhanced timing measurement such that differences in carrierfrequencies do not exceed the maximum carrier frequency distancepermissible; and selecting a type of timing measurement to be performedas said enhanced timing measurement, wherein the enhanced timingmeasurement comprises any one of: an Rx-Tx time difference measurementthat interrelates the first and second multifarious radio links; a roundtrip time (RTT) measurement that interrelates the first and secondmultifarious radio links; and a Timing Advance or one-way propagationdelay measurement for one of said first and second multifarious radiolinks determined in dependence on a timing of the other one of saidfirst and second multifarious radio links.
 2. The first radio node ofclaim 1, wherein, for the case where the first multifarious radio linkis transmitted by the first radio node, the second multifarious radiolink is transmitted by the second radio node, and for the case where thefirst radio link is transmitted by the second radio node, the secondmultifarious radio link is transmitted by the first radio node, andfurther wherein the enhanced timing determination circuit is configuredto interrelate a receive timing measured or known for one of the firstor second multifarious radio links with a transmit timing measured orknown for the other one of the first or second multifarious radio links,thereby interrelating transmit and receive timings across the differentpairs of radio nodes and/or across the different cell identifiers. 3.The first radio node of claim 1, wherein the first radio node isconfigured to operate in a carrier aggregation (CA) or a coordinatedmultipoint (CoMP) configuration with respect to the second radio nodeand wherein the first multifarious radio link is a primary or servingcarrier and the second multifarious radio link is a secondary carrier.4. The first radio node of claim 1, wherein the first multifarious radiolink is at a first frequency band and the second multifarious radio linkis at a different, second frequency band, said enhanced timingmeasurement thereby interrelating radio link timing across the first andsecond frequency bands.
 5. The first radio node of claim 1, wherein thefirst radio node comprises one of a base station or a user equipment(UE).
 6. The first radio node of claim 1, wherein the first and secondmultifarious radio links comprise an uplink associated with a first cellidentifier and a downlink associated with a second cell identifier, andwherein said enhanced timing measurement interrelates radio link timingacross the first and second cell identifiers.
 7. The first radio node ofclaim 1, wherein the enhanced timing determination circuit is configuredto compensate the enhanced timing measurement for at least one of: acell timing misalignment between different cells corresponding to thefirst and second multifarious radio links; and a frequency-dependentpropagation time difference between different carrier frequencies usedfor the first and second multifarious radio links.
 8. A method of radiolink timing measurement at a first radio node in a wirelesscommunication network, said method comprising: communicating with asecond radio node in the wireless communication network via a firstmultifarious radio link that is multifarious with respect to a secondmultifarious radio link involving the first or second radio node; anddetermining an enhanced timing measurement at the first radio node byinterrelating radio link timing across the first and second multifariousradio links; wherein said first multifarious radio link is multifariouswith respect to the second multifarious radio link because the secondmultifarious radio link is opposite in terms of uplink and downlinktransmit directions with respect to the first multifarious radio linkand further because the second multifarious radio link is associatedwith a different cell identifier than the first multifarious radio linkand because the second multifarious radio link is between either thefirst radio node and another radio node that is not said second radionode or is between the second radio node and another radio node that isnot said first radio node; wherein the method further comprisesperforming at least one of: reporting an enhanced timing measurementcapability of the first radio node, so that one or more other radionodes and/or network nodes in said wireless communication network areappraised of said enhanced timing measurement capability; andconfiguring the enhanced timing measurement in response to enhancedtiming measurement configuration information received from another radionode or network node in the wireless communication network, wherein theenhanced timing measurement configuration information includes a valueindicating the maximum carrier frequency distance permissible, whereinconfiguring the enhanced timing measurement includes: selecting which ofthe first and second multifarious radio links that are to be used inmaking the enhanced timing measurement such that differences in carrierfrequencies do not exceed the maximum carrier frequency distancepermissible; and selecting a type of timing measurement to be performedas said enhanced timing measurement, wherein the enhanced timingmeasurement comprises any one of: an Rx-Tx time difference measurementthat interrelates the first and second multifarious radio links; a roundtrip time (RTT) measurement that interrelates the first and secondmultifarious radio links; and a Timing Advance or one-way propagationdelay measurement for one of said first and second multifarious radiolinks determined in dependence on a timing of the other one of saidfirst and second multifarious radio links.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein, for the case where the first multifarious radio link istransmitted by the first radio node, the second multifarious radio linkis transmitted by the second radio node, and for the case where thefirst multifarious radio link is transmitted by the second radio node,the second multifarious radio link is transmitted by the first radionode, such that the enhanced timing measurement thereby interrelatestransmit and receive timings across the different pairs of radio nodesand/or across the different cell identifiers.
 10. The method of claim 8,wherein the first radio node is configured to operate in a carrieraggregation (CA) or a coordinated multipoint (CoMP) configuration withrespect to the second radio node and wherein the first multifariousradio link is a primary or serving carrier and the second multifariousradio link is a secondary carrier.
 11. The method of claim 8, whereinthe first multifarious radio link is at a first frequency band and thesecond multifarious radio link is at a different, second frequency band,said enhanced timing measurement thereby interrelating radio link timingacross the first and second frequency bands.
 12. The method of claim 8,wherein the first radio node comprises one of a base station or a userequipment (UE).
 13. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and secondmultifarious radio links comprise a uplink associated with a first cellidentifier and a downlink associated with a second cell identifier, andwherein said enhanced timing measurement interrelates radio link timingacross the first and second cell identifiers.
 14. The method of claim 8,further comprising compensating the enhanced timing measurement for atleast one of: a cell timing misalignment between different cellscorresponding to the first and second multifarious radio links; and afrequency-dependent propagation time difference between differentcarrier frequencies used for the first and second multifarious radiolinks.